The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-27
strange lands

He will, doubtless, marvel at the
completeness of the collection and
the learning and skill displayed in
their arrangement. A master hand
is shown in it all, and if the visitor
happens to stroll into the second
story of the institute and toward the
north end of the building, it is more
than likely, if the time be in the
afternoon, that he will see the gentle
man who is responsible for most of
the order. He will find the profess
sor in room that is rather bare OF
furniture and ornament, but it looks
like work. In a corner at desk
covered with books and papers you
will, perhaps, find Secretary Baird.
Near the window is a big table with
in reach of which is an electric key
board, by which the occupant can
call to him any officer or clerk in the
immense building. There are time
saving apparatuses all about, and
everything that science has done to
lengthen the day is in use. In this
big, bare room with its batteries and
wires, it's books and papers the pro-
lessor spends two or three hours
every day attending to certain kinds
of correspondence and receiving
visitors. But this is not his work
shop or his study; you will find that
at his residence on Massachusetts
avenue.
The house in which the scientist
lives is not very elegant one, but Is
situated in a very fashionable local
ity. Standing on the little porch
waiting for our knock to be answered
we can see the residences of Secre-
tary Bayard, which is only few
doors below, of Senators Morrill,, ALI
son and Payne and of Justice Miller.
1t is one of the most desirable neigh
borhoods of the capital, and within
circuit Of a quarter Of mile can
be found the residences of hundreds
Of public men. The house is of
brick, three stories and basement
high, with bay window of good d.
mansions running up the front.
There is also mansard roof and
large thermometer helps to make the
house noticeable.
The visitor is ushered into q pref
tily furnished parlor at the left.
From this vantage he can have
good view of the rooms of the house
on this floor, as they are all connect
ed by folding doors. The prospect
is not great or rich, but it is model
interior for q man in comfortable cir
cumstances and of refined tastes.
The parlor is furnished with modern
furniture, and there are scores of
etchings and paintings and photo
graphs on the walls. On the stands
are rare little articles of brio a. brac
gathered here and there and every
were in pedestrian tours over the
country and in Continental travel.
Next to the parlor is the library, and
it is very much like the former room
except for the book cases reaching to
the ceiling. The books are for the
most part of a literary character,
though here and there ponderous
work looks out at us from between
the dainty volumes in blue and gold.
Beyond is the morning room, and
to the rear of that is the hospitable
NluAue IOOLu, WIN ItS SPlcuuIuiy
carved tables and sideboards.
We take cogniIance of these sur
roundings while waiting for Prof.
Baird, and now his rather ponder
GUS tread is heard upon the stairs.
He enters the library with hand ex-
tended out to you and q welcome
from his intellectual face and bright
penetrating eyes, Over six feet high,
broad shoulders, heavy set and alto
gether massive, he is not by any
means an ordinary appearing man.
Yet few people you meet on the |
street could tell you who he was.
Very likely they would not be asked,
tor he is not man who would cause
remark on account of his personal
appearance. He is careless in his
dress, and skulks about the capital
with his gray suit and SLOUGH hat,
looking more like Virginia farmer
than one of the foremost of Ameri-
can scientists. He rarley notices his
surroundings and will pass his most
intimate friends on the street with
out a sign of recognition. His
thoughts are no doubt far away dur
ing these moments of preoccupation.
He is perhaps thinking of some new